West Texas Intermediate rose for a second day before stockpile data that will signal the strength of fuel demand in the U.S., the world’s biggest oil consumer. Brent gained in London.
Futures climbed as much as 0.6 percent in New York. U.S. crude inventories probably shrank by 2.8 million barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg News survey before tomorrow’s Energy Information Administration report. The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution calling for an international probe into the downing of a Malaysian Air passenger jet in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is holding talks in Cairo to end fighting in the Gaza Strip.
“Inventories are something that can influence prices as in the past weeks there were large draws which were bullish,” Gerrit Zambo, an oil trader at Bayerische Landesbank in Munich, said by phone today. “The biggest issues supporting prices are the crises in Ukraine and Gaza.”
WTI for August delivery, which expires today, gained as much as 66 cents to $105.25 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract closed at $104.59 yesterday, the highest level since July 1. September crude was up 21 cents at $103.07 at 12:28 p.m. London time. The volume of all futures traded was about 31 percent above the 100-day average. Front-month prices have advanced 6.6 percent this year.
via SOURCE
This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.